Evelyn de Morgan

{"Id":434,"Name":"Evelyn de Morgan","Biography":"\u003Cstrong\u003EEvelyn de Morgan\u003C/strong\u003E (1855-1919) was an important second generation Pre-Raphaelite and the niece of Spencer Stanhope. She is one of the few female followers of Dante Gabrielle Rossetti and Edward Coley Burne-Jones, her work having closer ties to that of the latter. However, Morgan\u0027s subject matter was very uniquely illustrated and filled with symbolism in a way that one cannot help but feel is being depicted from the female perspective. Take for example her painting of \u003Ci\u003EThe Love Potion\u003C/i\u003E. Unlike most of the famous male artists of the day, who\u0027s women even in the worst of times always appear \u0022picture perfect\u0022, Morgan shows us the inner turmoil on the face of what the viewer can tell should be a lovely woman. However, the subject appears haggard by her jealousy and mal intent as she mixes her potion to seduce the man outside. The man is visible in the background, directly over the cup. He embraces his love unaware of the fate that is soon to befall him. This is a very feminine depiction of this scene. The viewer senses that the artist can relate to the feelings experienced by the subject and although the \u003Ci\u003Ebelle sans dame merci\u003C/i\u003E is too embroiled in her act to notice, her black cat glares out at all those who are watching. Symbolically, the black cat is a witch\u0027s pet, and in this case it carries a double meaning. She is a witch in her heart as well as in the act of mixing potions.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDe Morgan started study at the Slade School of Fine Art in 1873, only 2 years after the school opened, before traveling abroad to Italy in 1875 for 2 years. She was married in 1887 to William de Morgan, the famous potter and designer, who shared in her love of art as well as her political and spiritual beliefs. A close friend of the de Morgan family was quoted as saying \u0022It is indeed unusual to find two people so gifted, so entirely in harmony in their art, who acted and reacted on each other\u0027s genius. Their romance is one before which the pen falters\u0022.[4] This was also the year of the artist\u0027s debut at the London Exhibition. Evelyn believed very strongly in women\u0027s rights and her husband supported her in her endeavors to help bring about equality between the sexes. Evelyn was active in the Suffragette movement, and was a signatory for the \u003Ci\u003EDeclaration in Favor of Women\u0027s Suffrage\u003C/i\u003E in 1889. Her work was exhibited mostly at the Grosvenor Gallery and at the New Gallery during her lifetime, though she sold very few canvases and much of her work remained with her estate after her death in 1919. Evelyn\u0027s sister, Mrs. Wilhelmina Stirling, loved her sister and husband\u0027s oeuvre, and published the biographies of both artists. When she died in 1965, she left the collection in trust. The De Morgan Foundation Charity was formally created in 1967, and most of her output still remains with them today.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EBecause so much of her total body of work remains in trust, her pieces, especially those of substance, are rare to the auction market. However, those who appreciate and love the Pre-Raphaelite painters of the 19th century admire her work. Her most substantial painting to come to market in the past 20 years was her work titled \u003Ci\u003ECrown of Glory\u003C/i\u003E. The piece sold at Sotheby\u0027s London, Tuesday, November 21, 1989, soaring over the \u0026#163;40,000 to \u0026#163;60,000 estimate and selling for \u0026#163;143,000, ($224,067). It set the record and still remains the highest price paid for one of her paintings at auction.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EBy Kara Lysandra Ross\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cu\u003ESource\u003C/u\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022http://www.demorgan.org.uk/de-morgans%20\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EThe De Morgan Foundation\u003C/a\u003E, William and Evelyn de Morgan, 2010.\u003Cp\u003E","Awards":null,"HasAlbums":false,"HasPortraits":true,"HasRelationships":true,"HasArticles":false,"HasDepictedPlaces":true,"HasLetters":false,"HasLibraryItems":false,"HasProducts":false,"HasSignatures":false,"HasVideos":false,"HasMapLocations":true,"TotalArtworks":83}